Natural antioxidants for preventing weight gain

In light of the growing numbers of overweight and obese individuals across the world, many researchers are concentrating their efforts on developing new solutions to tackle weight gain. Indeed this is a major issue given that excess weight is a known risk factor for many diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. According to a study published in January 2017 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition¹, it seems scientists may have identified a new way of helping people to shed those excess kilos gently and naturally.

Evaluating the potential of flavonoids - powerful, natural antioxidants

The researchers investigated a group of molecules called flavonoids. These are polyphenols and natural pigments found in many plants and recognised for their antioxidant potency. To assess their benefits, the scientists monitored the effects of flavonoid supplementation among 2734 healthy women aged between 18 and 83. They compared the women’s weight progression using various measures: limb-to-trunk fat mass ratio (FMR), body mass index (BMI) and central fat mass index (CFMI).

Promising results for weight loss

The study produced highly encouraging results, indicating an association between flavonoid supplementation and lower fat mass. The researchers were also able to compare the efficacy of different types of flavonoid: flavanones, anthocyanins, flavan-3-ols, flavonols, flavones, polymers and proanthocyanidins. The results were particularly significant in the case of anthocyanins, flavonols, flavan-3-ols and proanthocyanidins. Further studies are now needed to explain precisely how flavonoids exert this positive effect on weight loss. However, these new findings confirm the benefits of these natural antioxidants, benefits which have for many years been available in dietary supplement form from the Supersmart catalogue, such as the formulation Carbo Defense™.

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> Source :
1. Amy Jennings et al., Higher dietary flavonoid intakes are associated with lower objectively measured body composition in women: evidence from discordant monozygotic twins, Am J Clin Nutr, January 18, 2017.